Abnormal Psychology 3018 Anxiety Disorders: GAD

Separation Anxiety Disorder;

Specific Phobia;

Social Phobia;

Generalised Anxiety Disorder;

Panic Disorder (with/without Agoraphobia);

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder;

Acute Stress Disorder;

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.

Separation Anxiety Disorder;

Selective Mutism;

Specific Phobia;

Social Phobia;

Generalised Anxiety Disorder;

Panic Disorder;

Agoraphobia.

When the ‘fear’ or ‘anxiety’ becomes extreme and disruptive.

Avoidance;
overestimating the cost;
overestimating the likelihood.

In the persons 30’s but many report having always been a worrier.

In DSM-3 (1980) & described as ‘excessive, irrational worry’.

From being described as ‘irrational’ worry to uncontrollable worry occurring more often, at a greater intensity and about a variety of events/outcomes.

People feel as though they cannot stop worrying, there is always something to worry about.
It occurs most days then not, for at least 6 months.

Somatic symptoms related to tension - (restlessness, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, irritability, muscle tension, sleep disturbance).

Other anxiety disorders involve worry that is focused on one thing.
GAD is a free-floating worry that transfers from one thing to the next.

Young adults: social threat;

older adults: physical threat.

People tend to worry in words (not images), it contains mental chatter.

Solve problems, motivate action.

Stop worrying.

Pathological worriers cannot solve a problem because they find more things to worry about in the solution (‘catastrophising’).

An avoidance behaviour.

Because ‘imagery’ evokes stronger emotions then ‘verbal thought’, thus in order to AVOID feeling negative, the worrier thinks in words.
Reducing imagery is an attempt to reduce discomfort.

It interferes with emotional processing and the fear structures are maintained.

Worry is associated with a ‘fear of anxiety’ and an ‘anxiety sensitivity’.

They have an intolerance to stress and they avoid internal experiences.

Is characterises how worriers try to avoid uncertainty by always thinking about the future.
They aim to reduce uncertainty to zero - but this is impossible so the worrying never ends.

The ‘certain outcome’, even if it is bad.

Type 1 worry (‘normal’);

type 2 metaworry (‘abnormal’).

It is ‘normal’ worry, whereby the person understands that worrying is helpful if there is a solution. Once the solution is found and implemented, they will stop worrying.

It is 'abnormal' worry, where the person is worried about worrying. They try to stop worrying in an ineffective way and ultimately feel more out of control and anxious.

It's hard as the target of worry constantly changes. Must look at the actual mechanism of worrying and change the cognitive behaviour.

Help the person understand that they are overestimating the probability/cost of a threat.

By giving structured 'problem solving' training and getting them to think positively about a solution.
Focus on what could go RIGHT (not just wrong).

Forcing them to process their fears and anxiety emotionally, and realised that the 'avoided' outcome is not so bad.
Help them realise they CAN tolerate emotions and learn how to regulate them.

Yes, as they learn to not worry in other times of the day.

Need to challenge beliefs about the actual 'worrying'. Help them understand that worrying is not that bad if it is done in a healthy way - so they let go of the anxiety surrounding worrying.

50-60%.